Aston Villa are set to complete a near £100m double signing of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye as manager Unai Emery reshapes his forward line. The club has accepted a £50m bid from Al-Hilal for Ollie Watkins, who apologized for refusing to play before his departure, and is also selling Emiliano Martínez to Chelsea for £7.5m.
Emery described the moves as the start of a “new chapter” for Villa. The club aims to finalize Jackson’s £47.5m transfer in time for him to debut against Arsenal on Monday, while Mbaye’s deal is also nearing completion for a similar fee.
KEY FACTS
- Aston Villa are signing Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson for £47.5m and PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye for a similar fee
- The club accepted a £50m bid from Al-Hilal for Ollie Watkins, who apologized for refusing to play
- Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is being sold to Chelsea for £7.5m
- Manager Unai Emery called this a “new chapter” for Villa
Why the attacking overhaul?
Aston Villa’s decision to rebuild their forward line comes after accepting Saudi interest in Watkins, their top scorer last season. The combined £100m outlay on Jackson and Mbaye represents one of the club’s largest transfer investments in recent years, signaling their ambition under Emery. Both new signings are young strikers with potential to develop further under the Spanish manager’s system.
What happens with outgoings?
Watkins’ impending move to Al-Hilal follows his public disagreement with the club after refusing to play, which he has since apologized for. The £50m fee represents significant profit on Villa’s initial investment in the English forward. Martínez’s departure to Chelsea for £7.5m provides additional funds to offset the substantial spending on new attacking talent.
WHAT WE KNOW — AND WHAT WE DON’T
Verified by the source:
- The transfer fees for Jackson (£47.5m) and Mbaye (similar)
- Watkins’ £50m sale to Al-Hilal
- Martínez’s £7.5m move to Chelsea
Still unconfirmed:
- Exact completion dates for the Jackson and Mbaye deals
- The length of contracts for the new signings
- Potential additional performance clauses in any of the transfers
WHY IT MATTERS
This transfer activity represents a significant reshaping of Aston Villa’s squad as they look to build on last season’s progress under Emery. The substantial investment in young attacking talent suggests a long-term vision, while recouping significant fees for outgoing players demonstrates the club’s ability to operate efficiently in the transfer market.
WHAT TO WATCH
Whether Jackson can complete his move in time to debut against Arsenal on Monday, and how quickly the new forward line can gel ahead of Villa’s European campaign.